Ghost Maculopathy: An Artifact on Near-Infrared Reflectance and Multi Color Imaging Masquerading as Chorioretinal Pathology

PURPOSE: To describe the features of an artifact on near-infrared reflectance and Multi Color imaging, termed "ghost maculopathy," and to illustrate how it may masquerade as true chorioretinal pathology. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, observational case series. " METHODS: The authors studied 144 eyes of 72 consecutive patients in a vitreoretinal clinical practice, reviewing multimodal imaging including color and red-free fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), near-infrared reflectance, Multi Color imaging, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT). RESULTS: In 36 of 144 eyes (25%), there was an appearance of a hyper-reflective spot on near-infrared reflectance and Multi Color imaging, located at the macula, nasal or superonasal to the fovea, which did not correspond to any apparent lesion on color and red-free fundus photography, FAF, or SD OCT. This spot was termed the "ghost image" in this phenomenon of "ghost maculopathy." The ghost image was present consistently on near-infrared reflectance and Multi Color imaging in all 36 eyes at every imaging encounter, showing minimal and subtle variability in its shape and location within each eye; however, it showed large interindividual variability in size, shape, location, and reflectivity between different eyes. Nine eyes were found to have a similar hyperreflective spot resembling that in ghost maculopathy, but corresponding SD OCT images were consistent with diagnoses of choroidal nevus, age-related macular degeneration, and multifocal choroiditis. All eyes with ghost maculopathy were found to be pseudophakic with a posterior chamber intraocular lens. CONCLUSION: Ghost maculopathy is the phenomenon of an imaging artifact appearing at the macula on near-infrared reflectance and Multi Color imaging that occurs predominantly in pseudophakic patients and may be mistaken for true chorioretinal pathology. Awareness of this artifact is prudent to avoid misinterpretation of clinical findings and possible unnecessary overinvestigation. (C) 2014 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.